Others maintained that he married—and consummated with—one thousand women. As for the date of his death, several opinions have been voiced; the best-known and soundest, upon which al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī recorded unanimous agreement, is that he died in the year 50 AH.

Among that circle was also al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad, Abū Maʿbad al-Kindī, an ally of Banū Zuhrah.

Imām Aḥmad narrated: ʿAffān told us, Ḥammād ibn Salamah told us, from Thābit, from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā, from al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad, who said:

“I came to Madinah with two companions. We sought hospitality from the people, yet no one took us in. We therefore went to the Prophet ﷺ and informed him. He brought us to his home, where he had four nanny goats, and said:

‘Miqdād, milk them, divide the milk into four equal shares, and give each person his portion.’

“I used to do so. One night I set aside the Prophet’s share for him, but he was late in returning, so I lay down on my bedding. My soul whispered, ‘The Prophet ﷺ has probably gone to visit a household of the Anṣār; why not rise and drink this draught?’ The inner urging persisted until I rose and drank his portion. When it had settled in my belly and I felt satisfied, a wave of remorse—old and new—swept over me.

“I said to myself, ‘The Prophet ﷺ will come now, hungry and thirsty, and will find nothing in the cup.’ I pulled a cloth over my face. The Prophet ﷺ arrived, offering a greeting audible to one who is awake yet gentle enough not to disturb a sleeper. He uncovered the vessel and found it empty. He then raised his head toward the sky and said:

‘O Allah, give drink to whoever has given me drink, and feed whoever has fed me.’

“I seized upon his supplication. I rose, took a knife, and went to the goats, feeling them to see which was fattest so that I might slaughter it. My hand touched the udder of one, and lo, it was full. I examined another; it too was full—indeed, all of them were swollen with milk. I milked them into the vessel, brought it to him, and said, ‘Drink.’

“He asked, ‘What is the matter, O Miqdād?’ I replied, ‘Drink first, then the story.’ He said, ‘Some mischief of yours, O Miqdād!’ He drank, then said, ‘Drink.’ I replied, ‘Drink, O Messenger of Allah.’ He drank until he was satiated. Then I took the cup and drank, after which I informed him of what had happened.

“The Prophet ﷺ exclaimed, ‘Heeh! So that is how it was.’ Then he said, ‘This is a blessing sent down from…’